The Graft (#289 of 365+)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)

Joni spoke of her first-hand experience as a child, watching her uncle work in
his apple orchard during the spring months. He would cut slants into a tree and insert small branches into the wet cuts—a horticultural practice called grafting—and the injury would cause an increase of tree sap to flow towards the wound. Under the skillful care of the grafter those grafted branches would produce hundreds of apples by the end of the growing season.

If it wasn’t for the cuts made by those masterful hands, the branches would never unite with the tree and the sap couldn’t flow into the branches. And without the tree sap there would be no fruit. In much the same way, pain is an unavoidable part of the Father’s perfect plan to bond his heart to mine. As I cling to him, the power of the Holy Spirit flows through me and will produce an abundant harvest of spiritual fruit as evidence of his presence. It could take a lifetime and I might have scars from all the seasons but I must always remember that I’m in the Master’s good hands. Jesus Christ was the one who received the first cuts so it would even be possible to bring me in and give me his life.

“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5)

Lord, thank you that my soul will forever be united with you. Help me as I go through this day, in the flesh, to remain and abide in you. Amen.